This book sets out to review the shepherd metaphor and raise the question whether the metaphor should be the basis of the pastoral and leadership models that are derived from the image of the shepherd, and whether such models can be enriched by the analysis of the said metaphor as applied to the implementation of the shepherding responsibility described in the Old Testament. It utilizes rhetorical criticism in consultation with metaphorical theory to examine the given metaphor used in the models of pastoral and leadership roles and their relationship with the shepherd metaphor in the New Testament with the objective to both explore the use of the shepherd metaphor in the Old Testament and examine the use of the shepherd metaphor in pastoral and leadership models. This includes pointing out that some of these models rely heavily on their understanding of New Testament uses of this metaphor, and this in turn leads to comparing the Old Testament and pastoral/leadership models' uses of the shepherd metaphor and draws conclusions based on this comparison.

The shepherd metaphor is one of the most important theological images in the Hebrew Bible. The contemporary image of shepherd inclines toward a therapist, counselor, and caregiver. However, careful study of this metaphor in the Hebrew Bible proves otherwise. The book is designed to reveal all possible original meanings of the shepherd image, expressed not only in Yahweh, but also in various biblical characters such as Abraham, Moses, David, and so forth. However, the focus is not on the person designated as shepherd, but rather the roles and characteristics of a shepherd that would manifest through these people. To achieve this, the Hebrew text has been studied by applying historical-literacy exegesis to determine the textual meaning. Comparison of the ancient Near Eastern literature help to enlighten the usage of the metaphor in the ancient world related to the Old Testament. This work shows how the definitions given in the current literature of pastoral theology fail to satisfy the meaning of shepherd, and how the Old Testament is an essential resource for the study of the shepherd metaphor. The result is to have the metaphor used in its proper understanding. The book also aims to consolidate the meanings of the metaphor in the various biblical passages for future development.